Verb tense
Keep the verbs in the same time unless the time really changes.
Updated October 29, 2026
The rule
If a story is told in the past, keep it in the past. Switching to the present without a reason confuses the reader.
Use had plus a past participle (had left) for something that happened before another past event. Words like yesterday, next week and since tell you which tense you need.
Examples
Yesterday we go to the zoo.Yesterday we went to the zoo.By the time we arrived, the movie already started.By the time we arrived, the movie had already started.
Quick test: Underline every verb in the sentence and check that their times agree with each other and with any time words.
Try it: find the mistake
The mistake in each sentence is highlighted. Say the fix out loud, then open the answer.
Last summer we swim in the lake every day.
Last summer we swam in the lake every day.
"Last summer" is in the past, so the verb is swam.
Tomorrow I visited my grandpa.
Tomorrow I will visit my grandpa.
"Tomorrow" is in the future, so use will visit.
She opened the box and finds a letter inside.
She opened the box and found a letter inside.
The sentence is in the past (opened), so the second verb is past too: found.
I have seen that movie last week.
I saw that movie last week.
"Last week" names a finished time, so use the simple past: saw.
Where this rule is tested
Questions people ask
What is the rule for verb tense?
Keep the verbs in the same time unless the time really changes. If a story is told in the past, keep it in the past. Switching to the present without a reason confuses the reader.
How can I check my verb tense quickly?
Underline every verb in the sentence and check that their times agree with each other and with any time words.
Where can I practice this for free?
In Owl Test Prep's Daily Grammar Fix: one sentence a day for everyone, plus practice sets of five on this rule. It is free, with no account.